Switzerland of America Jeep Rentals and Tours, Ouray

Switzerland of America�s Jeeps do not have the heavy duty manufacturing package that other Jeep rental places in Ouray have; their tires are not as high quality as those used by other rental places; and they are aggressive in charging extra at the end of the day for any lateness, scratches and other cosmetic defects. Therefore, they are significantly more expensive. To top it off, their owner�s son who manages the place is surly, belligerent, and completely lacking in warmth or gratitude to his customers. Don�t rent from Switzerland of America. Instead, rent from other rental companies in town because they are less expensive, kind and cheerful, and have better Jeeps with larger and better tires that are expressly made for off-roading and keep the Jeep higher off the ground. We had a wonderful week in Ouray last week, our second family vacation there. Went in to Switzerland of America and reserved a Jeep. The older employee who helped us was wonderful and outlined a day's drive he thought would serve us well. Came in the day of the rental at about 10:30 AM and found our Jeep ready. As we left, we found out we had to have the Jeep back by 5:00 PM. So a one-day rental fee of $130 would only get us six hours. Fun day in the mountains, then back to Ouray. Our last trail was extraordinarily slow and we got back at 6:00. The older employee was there but a surly young man replaced him in Switzerland of America�s relations with us. He started by checking out the Jeep for damage and it was clear he was eager to find some. As he searched there was not a hint of warmth, gratitude, or even basic social graces. Cheerfully, I told him what a good day we�d had. No response at all. After quite a while, he had to admit our Jeep had no damage so back into the store for settling up. He returned our deposit, then said, �You�re an hour late and that will be a fifty dollar late charge.� Since we�d known beforehand what the late charge would be, I made no objection and paid the late fee. Again, no thankfulness, cheer, or personal interest in his customers. We had dinner at the hotel next door, as usual (GREAT pizza). Walking back to our car at 7:15, we noticed Switzerland of America was still open. I thought to myself, �I�m going to complain to the owner and ask him to refund half of my late fee. We haven�t inconvenienced them at all�they�re still there an hour and a quarter later.� So I asked my son to go in and get the young man�s name. He came out a couple minutes later and told me that when the surly young man had been very rude and insulting. (My son is the picture of politeness and 23 years old). At that point, I went back to Switzerland of America myself and told the surly young man that I didn�t appreciate his rude treatment of my son, and that I wanted him to apologize to my son. Immediately he was belligerent. He told me he�d call the police if I didn�t leave, he used foul language, he dared me to take a punch at him�you get the picture, I�m sure. So I gave up. Afterwards, we talked to a shopkeeper on the same block and he told us Switzerland of America looks professional, but they�re always trying to smack on the extra charges. I spoke with another Jeep rental place in town and asked them their policy about late fees. He said they�d only charge a late fee if someone was waiting for a Jeep and there was none there to give them. Even then, it was unlikely he�d charge more than $25. He went on to point out Switzerland of America�s Jeeps lacked the off-road packages that all his Jeeps had, and that this, combined with the larger tires he put on his Jeeps, meant Switzerland of America�s Jeeps bottomed out more. Sure enough, we checked out the tires on Switzerland of America�s Jeeps and they were very small and lightweight compared to those on the Jeeps at the other rental place.